Commemorative Busts honouring former Deans unveiled

To recognise the important contributions made by the two founding Deans of the Melbourne Veterinary School, in 2017 the Melbourne University Veterinary Society with the agreement of the Melbourne Veterinary School undertook fundraising for the commission of bronze busts of Professor Blood and Professor Jubb.

The generosity of 115 donors enabled the commission of artist Darien Pullen to produce the busts which are now displayed outside the U-Vet library.

Speaking at the unveiling were Professor John Fazakerley, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, Professor Josh Slater, Head of Melbourne Veterinary School, and Dr Jakob Malmo AO, BVSc, FACVSc, DVSc (honoris causa).

"It is in no small thanks to the hard work, dedication and brilliance of Professors Blood and Jubb that today the University of Melbourne Veterinary School is one of Australia’s leading veterinary clinical, teaching and research facilities, where we are committed to educating the veterinarians of today and tomorrow," said Professor Slater.

"They were both men of great intellect and they worked very well together. Whenever I think of the reestablishment of the Melbourne Veterinary, they are the names that come to the forefront," said Dr Malmo.

"They both had a great capacity for hard work. With respect to the University of Melbourne Veterinary School and the Veterinary profession in Australia and beyond, Doub Blood and Ken Jubb were certainty the right people in the right place at the right time."

At the event guests were able to speak with artist Darien Pullen about the process of creating the busts and family members of Professors Blood and Jubb were in attendance.

The unveiling of the two busts was followed by a tour of the laboratory spaces recently named for these visionary veterinarians.

The evening also included the annual DC Blood Oration, presented by Professor Colin Wilks.

Professor Douglas Blood

Douglas Charles Blood was the founding Dean of the modern veterinary school at the University of Melbourne and a world leader of large animal practice, especially in the fields of preventive medicine and dairy herd health. He had a lifelong devotion to learning and frequently acknowledged how scholarships had allowed him to advance in life.

Professor Blood was appointed Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne in 1962. His remit was to re-establish the veterinary school and was the driving force behind the initial curriculum, new buildings at Parkville and Werribee, selection of the first staff and students and the establishment of the teaching hospital and an ambulatory teaching clinic.

In recognition of his contribution to veterinary science, Professor Blood received several awards and honorary degrees. In 1981 he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and an Honorary Associate of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He received the Schofield Medal from the University of Guelph in 1981, an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981, the Gilruth Prize from the Australian Veterinary Association in 1983, an honorary DVSc from the University of Melbourne in 1985 and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Guelph in 1987.

His seminal text on livestock diseases, written with Jim Henderson, Veterinary Medicine ran through ten editions, several co-authors (initially Otto Radostits and Clive Gay) and many translations.

Professor Blood was a devoted family man; he and wife Marian raised five daughters. For decades their home in Werribee hosted visitors to the veterinary school and family gatherings for staff. He had a great sense of fun and is remembered for his signature bow tie, an essential accessory for the vet who could not afford to have his tie dangle in his bovine post-mortem.

Professor Kenneth Jubb

Professor Kenneth Jubb was a distinguished veterinary pathologist with an international reputation, who had a remarkable record of contribution to veterinary education and made a significant contribution to the administration of the University of Melbourne at the highest levels.

As Professor of Veterinary Pathology at The University of Melbourne, Professor Jubb was instrumental in founding the School of Veterinary Science under leadership of Professor Douglas Blood. He was appointed Dean of the Faculty in 1969, a position from which he retired 21 years later. He was a member of the University's Council and Chairman of the Academic Board and held several other appointments.

Ken received numerous accolades included the Gilruth Prize by the Australian Veterinary Association, an honorary membership of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, and an AOM in 2010. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australasian College of Veterinary Scientists, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and a Governor of the Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation. He served on the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board for 21 years, including terms as vice-chairman and Chairman. Ken was awarded Honorary Doctoral degrees in veterinary science from Murdoch University, the University of Putra Malaysia, and the University of Melbourne

During eleven years teaching in North America, he co-authored with Peter Kennedy the textbook Pathology of domestic animals which, through six editions from 1963 was the standard international reference on the subject.

Professor Jubb's contribution to veterinary education extended to advanced training for veterinary scientists in several Asian countries. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences.